1 August 2018

Newsletter Articles

School Calendar

PRAYER

OPENING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS – PT PIRIE DIOCESAN PRAYER

Loving God,
Open our heart to you as we know we are made in your image and likeness
Open our mind to you as you show us peace and dignity
Open our heart to you so we promote the good of all
Open our mind to you as we work together to build our community
Open our heart to you to see all those who are in need
Open our mind to you so we know the wonder of your creation
Open, open, open our heart and mind to your love.
Amen

Principals Report

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,

At the start of a new term I again remind you of our strong belief in working closely with the parents and carers of our students.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, or myself, over any matter. Following the reports sent home last term, if you require an interview with your child’s teacher, please contact them directly. We have held our formal whole school interviews earlier in the year, but parents are welcome and encouraged to meet with the child’s teacher at any time during the year. These meetings are a good way to discuss the report and set goals for the future.

We welcome the following students and their families to OLOR this term: Olivia Stiles (Foundation), Emmanuel Exarheas (Foundation) and Caleb Wouters (Year 5).

A warm welcome also to Miss Georgia Eckermann who is teaching in Foundation this Semester.

I ask strongly that you take the time to check the contents of the newsletter and school app (SZapp) which will be updated on Wednesdays, Weeks 2,3,5,7 and 9 this term. Everything about what is planned for the term can be found in these two sources.

Sport Days – Mondays (Mr. Cotter: Whole school).
Thursdays (Class teachers: Foundation, Year 1, 2 and Years 4/5)
Friday (Class teachers: Year 3 and Years 6/7)
A reminder that full day uniform is to be worn on other days. Sandshoes only on sport days.

Scholastic BOOK FAIR – Monday 31st July until Wednesday morning 8th August.
We are in need of helpers. We can open if we have volunteers to collate books sold and take money in the parish centre. Please see administration staff if you can assist.
Opening times: 8.30am – 8.50am & 3.15pm – 3.30pm

School Canteen – Commences this Friday 3rd August.
Orders to be placed on Thursdays.

School Focus

From the huge amount of work that the staff and I engaged in during our professional development week at the beginning of this term, I will reflect upon one area we have been reminded about and will focus on this Semester with the students.

It is the importance of looking after our environment and what we have been given and provided with in our daily lives. Especially, never taking what we have for granted or being wasteful. We as a staff, we believe that this is important to teach the children and to make a whole school effort in changing some simple daily routines here at school and encourage at home, to take more care for the world we live in.

The teachers in each class will be working on the relevant themes in their year levels, on the importance of Ecological Conversion. This basically means that we have a responsibility for our changing environment, prompting us to stop and think about how we live on our planet. We are called to respond and to adopt new ways of living.

An important letter from Pope Francis, called an encyclical, Laudato Si’ – ‘On the Care of our Common Home’ is a document I will refer to in coming newsletters.

This term we will start by classes sitting together in groups for eating periods, encouraging ‘Nude Food’ lunch boxes, taking home our waste (families can evaluate this if it is taken home), reducing food wastage (students taking home what they don’t consume) and reducing the amount of straws, paper usage and electrical energy we use in the school. Only small steps to start with but as the children learn more about what we can all do to help our environment both globally and locally, I’m sure we will grow in the ideas and programs implemented as a community.

Fundraising

'OLOR Helping Hands' is starting to gather numbers, however we are still looking for a few more volunteers. This group will co-ordinate school fundraising events including our catering, cabarets, movie nights, raffles and future chocolate carnivals etc.

The aim of the ‘OLOR Helping Hands' group is for parents and friends of our community to join together and have fun being involved in;

* Assisting in the planning and organizing of functions associated with the social, sporting, cultural and educational life of the school community.

* Fundraising for particular projects which assist or enhance teaching aids and equipment, or improvements to facilities within the school grounds, buildings etc.

We would aim to have a parent representative from the group provide a report to the School Board when needed and for the group to have a small executive that would communicate regularly with the Principal.

Please, if you are interested in taking part in this group, please call the administration staff.

Ros Oates
Principal

Religious Education News

Dates for the following Sacraments:

Reconciliation – Tuesday evening 7th August (time 6pm) St Mary’s Church.
First Holy Communion – Sunday 19th August 9am St Mary’s Church.

The latest edition of the Southern Cross features all the latest news and information on our Catholic community. Click on the following link below.

SCHOOL NEWS & EVENTS

SPORT NEWS

Golf SA Clinic

On Wednesday 27th June (Week 9), Allen Telford and Oscar from Golf SA conducted two sessions for the Yr. 4/5 and 6/7 classes. The students had an enjoyable time learning the basic rules of golf and for many of our students learning to hit a golf ball accurately and correctly. We thank Allan and Golf SA for visiting the region and promoting golf in schools for no cost. Hopefully we will have a few students at the District Qualifying Golf Day at Berri Golf Club on Sunday August 5th.

SAPSASA

Basketball Carnival

In Week 10, Miss Drogemuller and Mr Cotter travelled to Loxton with Yr. 6/7 girls and boy’s teams to compete at the Riverland Basketball Carnival. The winner has the honours of participating in the State Championships later in the year, which the girls competed in 2016. We were blessed with a burst of spring weather on the day and had some very eager children ready to play. The girls’ team started the day off with a loss but managed to gel quickly and win their remaining five games convincingly to finish equal second. There were a lot of new faces in the boys’ team as we begin our rebuild after a couple of dominating years in Division 1. The six boys battled hard all day against taller and more experienced opposition. With positive encouragement from the girls, the team competed well in their games and pulled off a convincing win in the end.

We thank Rachel Gates for assisting with transport and also to Old Scholars Darcy Minchella and Harmon Singh for volunteering their time to assist umpiring all day.

Quote of the Week

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.
I've lost almost 300 games.
26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.
I've failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that is why I succeed.
~ Michael Jordan

Riddle of the Week

What has a face and two hands but no head or legs?

Yours in sport,
Mr. Cotter

CLASS NEWS

Year 4 and 5 Assembly

On Friday in Week 9 the Yr. 4/5 students led the school assembly. We had a focus on our STEM project that we are undertaking as part of a partnership with CESA and UniSA that Mr Cotter is involved in. A few of us described to the school community the definition of photosynthesis, sustainability and the timeline of a seed. We have photos attached below of our work.

In class with Miss Jones, we learnt about poetry and shared some of our poems at the assembly. Meanwhile in writing with Mr Cotter, we developed procedures on how to do some of our favourite things. We are looking forward to writing out a method to sneak a monster home from school in Term 3. Parents look out!

Year 1 Excursion – Historical Village

Throughout the term, the Year 1 class have been learning about past and present in HASS. They have been looking at family structures, communication, toys, games and clothing from the past and how it has changed over time. In week 10, the Year 1 class visited the Loxton Historical Village. They had lots of fun learning about the past, making damper and butter from scratch, spinning their own rope and having a go at washing using a washboard and bucket of water. We loved walking around looking at the old buildings and playing on the old play equipment.

Boxes of Love disaster relief charity

Many thanks to all the families who were able to contribute items and containers for the Boxes of Love disaster relief charity. Our senior students were able to decorate and fill the boxes with your generous donations. Our thanks to Crystal Ringrose, past OLOR student, for the organisation of this charity activity.

Choir Rehearsal – Berri Town Hall

“The OLOR Festival choir group has participated in their last cluster rehearsal before the concert, which was on the last Friday of Term 2.

The concert is on Thursday, 9th of August, 7.30pm, at the Chaffey Theatre, Renmark. Tickets are still available via the link below if you would like to support our wonderful singers.”

Retirement

Our Lady of the River School celebrated both Lyn Moldovan's 65th Birthday and retirement at the end of School Term 2. We wish Lyn every happiest in her future adventures.

Playgroup

Come along to B.O.P.P.E.R.S. (Berri OLOR Planned Playgroup Early Readiness for School) on Tuesdays 9am till 11am. There are a lovely group of young children and their carers enjoying our opportunity for free play, structured games and craft activities. Please let friends and family know in the community.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

A reminder that the Premier’s Reading Challenge is well under way for 2018. I would appreciate if parents could encourage their child/ren to participate in the Challenge. Children only need to read 12 books, 8 of them being from the Challenge.

The books cover 3 reading year levels: R-2, 3-5 & 6-9. Children may read above but, not below their level.

Please visit the website if children would like to rate a book or check the top 10 books in each level.

The Challenge closes on 7th September.

Sandy Sando

Fortnight Reminders

Community News

Riverland Youth Theatre News

Riverland Youth Theatre

In Term 3 Riverland Youth Theatre has four workshops which young people can take part in!

• Riverland Youth Theatre Acting Ensemble – Junior (5 -11) (Thursday 4pm - 5pm)
• Riverland Youth Theatre Acting Ensemble – Senior (12 - 18) (Thursday 5:30pm - 6:30pm)
• Glee Club - Ages 8 - 14 (Saturday 6pm - 7pm)
• Acting Master Class - Ages 15 - 26 (Saturday 7:30 – 9:00pm)

Junior and Senior Ensemble begin Week 2 of School Term 3
Glee Club and Acting Master Class begin Week 3 of School Term 3
Each Workshop is $150 for a School Term. Discounts are available

Chris Bond Artistic Director Riverland Youth Theatre chris@ryt.org.au
08 8586 3437 | 0401 865 661 PO Box 100 | 54 Ral Ave RENMARK 5341

School Dental Service Clinics

Advising parents and carers that dental care is free for all babies, preschool and most children under 18 years at School Dental Service clinics.

Loxton Chamber of Commerce

Loxton Chamber of Commerce have a creative workshop day on Sunday 12th August. Any questions please feel free to contact Ms. Sonya Altschwager Business & Events Manager Loxton Chamber of Commerce Inc

t: 0427 064 825 e: admin@loxtonchamber.com.au

Happy Birthday!